Developing a Spatial Planning Framework for Sustainable Land and Natural Resources Management. A Perspective from Battambang Province, Cambodia

SUMMARY: In the last 30 years, the context of development in Cambodian has gone through dramatic changes. A succession of transitions characterised by a complete restructuring of institutional and socio-economic frameworks have resulted in a singular situation. Cambodian society remains largely agrarian with land being a major safety net for a large majority of the population who depend on natural resources in their livelihood. Nevertheless, in the context of an industrializing economy, land-based resources are under the pressure of competing driving forces. Aiming at sustainable development, a balance needs to be found between interests that are sometimes contradictory. In this context, the paper presents a spatial planning initiative that is being undertaken in a province of Cambodia. The paper first reviews the current institutional context underlying the initiative. Then it addresses the objectives and scope of the proposed spatial planning framework. It further details the methodology and key outputs of the planning processes. It concludes on the conditions that need to be met to put the spatial planning framework into action.

Available for download

Report